
Oarfish, Ribbonfish, King of Herrings





The oar fish is generally considered the longest fish in the world's oceans. Reports have been given of fish reaching a length of 41' and research accounts give estimates from 30 to 50' in length.
It is a member of the Regalecidae Family of fishes, classified as Regalecus glesne, "the royal" one, perhaps commonly named for its oar-like appendages, its particular form of movement (amniform) in the water or its highly compressed form. There are four species in two genera, within the Order Lampriformes.
They have a long, iconic dorsal fin extending the length of their body and have spiny projections emanating laterally from their caudal and pelvic fin rays. The scaleless fish actually lack true spines but the first 10 to 12 of the dorsal fin rays are elongated and quite distinct. The "king of herring" or"ribbonfish" is believed to be found in all tropical and temperate waters worldwide. It was first filmed alive in 2001 by U.S. Navy personnel in Bahamian waters.
They spend a large proportion of their hunting & gathering mode in the ocean sitting vertically upright with mouth agape waiting for planktonic wanderers. They have no visible teeth and most likely strain and filter-feed zooplankton.
Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F, J.C.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
Olney, J.E. Ii Paxton, J.R. & W.N. Eschmeyer (Eds). 1994. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Sydney: New South Wales University Press; San Diego: Academic Press [1995]. Pp. 240.
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